Step raising and lowering device for railway-cars.



E. M. MULLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- IB IBIS.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

M.Mu11 er,

I INVENTOR. EBvarE ATTORNEYS cuLuMmA PLANUGRAIH col, WASHINGTON, u. c.

E. M. IVIOLLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I8. I915.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CL? w I INVENTOR: M.Mu11 er,

ATTORNEYS E. M. MOLLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18,1915.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

' 5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

E. M. MOLLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 18. 1915.

1,163,359. Patented Dec.7,191 5.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- WITNESSES: INVENTOR'.

12 EEI ETEIMMDHE;

ATTORN EYS E. M. MULLER.

STEP RAISING AND LOWEHING DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPI'I I8. I9I5.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Ii l"? 2 i "9 ,7 8 (6e? 3 Ema 35 44 51 35 3:;

g 7Q 4O 2O 43 I qkgg 3 F ET Z INVENTORZ 22 EElvarEIM.1\/fn11er, M BY lbWMJATTQORNEYS FFEQE.

IEDVARD IVI. 'MOLLER, OF JERSEY CITY,INEV I JERSEY.

STEP RAISING AND LOWERING- DEVICE FOB'RAILWAY-CARS.

messes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

f PatentedlDec."?,1915.

Application filed September 18,1915. 7 Serial No. 51,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDVARD M. MoLLnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StepRaising and Lowering Devices for Railway- Cars; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof theinvention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which itappertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates, generally, to improvements in railway cars; and,the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel andsimply-operated mechanism for raising and lowering the step or steps connected with theplatform of a street-railway car.

pal object to provide a simply-constructed and an effectively operatingstep-raising and lowering mechanism of the general constructionhereinafter more fully set forth, and which is preferably operated froma vertical spindle which is actuatedby the motorman or conductor of thecar, at the. same time that the vestibule door or doors of the car areclosed or opened by such motorman or conductor.

Other objects of the present invention not at this time more.particularly enumerated will beclearly understood from the followingdetailed description of the present in-' vention.

With the various objects of the present:

invention in view, the said invention con slsts, primarily in the novelstep-operating mechanism hereinafter more fully set forth;

and, the invention consists, furthermore, .in the novel arrangements andcombinations ofthe varlous devlces and parts, as well as in the detailsof the construction of the said parts, all of which will be described inthe following specification, and then finally The present invention hasfor its princi street-railway car and its platform, with a palr offolding steps and mechanism for operating said steps, the steps beingrepresented in their lowered relation to the platform, and all showingone embodiment of the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the devices and parts shown in said Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow :12. Fig. 3 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale,of the left-hand endeportion of the devices and parts represented insaid Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4: is a similar view, also on an enlargedscale, of the centrally located portion of the devices and partsrepresented in said Figs. 1 and2. Fig. 5 is'a transverse verticalsection, said section being taken on line 5-5 in saldFig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrow '1, said view being also made on an enlargedscale; and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional representation of the samedevices and parts illustrated in said Fig. 5, but showing the stepraised, the parts of the step-raising and lowering mechanism in theirrelative positions when the step has thusbeenraised.

Similar characters of reference are on. ployed inall the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

'Referring now to the several figures of thedrawings,]thereference-character i indicates a fragmentary portion ofthe body of a streetrailway car, which is provided at one or both of itsends with the usual platform, a fragmentary portion of which is hereshown and is indicated by the reference-character 2.

The reference characters 3 and 4t indicat the usual vertically disposedand rotatably arranged posts, mounted closely to the exit and inletportions of the platform, and said posts having suitably mounted thereonthe usual vestibule-doors or gates 5. The said platforms are suitablymounted upon the usual stringer or supporting beams 6 of the frameworkof the car. Suitably secured to the said stringersor beams 6, by meansof bolts, as 7,orother'suitable fastening means, are suitably formedangle-bars, as 8, to which are attached bymeansof bolts and nuts 10, apair of suitably-shaped outer brackets, as 11, and a pair of suitablyshaped inner, brackets, as 12. The lower portions of said brackets 11and 12 are made with downwardly projecting elements or members, as 13,each element or member 13 having a forwardly extending portion, as 14provided with a bearing 15. Oscillatorily mounted in said bearings-15'is a horizontally disposed shaft or shafts 16, said shaft or shaftshaving suitably aflixed thereto, by means of pins 17, or other suitablefastening means, suitably-shaped stepcarrying brackets, as 18 and 19,said brackets being suitably disposed in pairs, and each pair of saidbrackets 18 and 19, respectively carrying suitable steps 20 and 21. Thesaid brackets 18 and 19 are "also made with suitably disposedstop-members, as 22, whichengage laterally extending projecting stops,as 23, with which the brackets 11 and 12 are provided, for limiting thedownward movements of the steps 20 and 21, and positively retaining saidsteps in horizontal positions, when lowered, as will be clearly evident.

Vertically disposed guards, as 241, may also besuitably afiixed in saidbrackets 11 and 12-.

As shown, the'lower portions of the previously mentioneddoor-carryingiposts 3 and 4: are mounted in bearings 25 in the platform,and project suitably beneath the platform, the lower projecting portionof'each post having suitably secured thereon, soas tooscillate with thepost, an arm,-as -26,'eaeh arm 26 being provided upon its freeendportionwith a downwardly extending pin 26' carrying an antifrictionroller 27.The previously-mentioned stringer or beam- 6-has suitably securedthereto, in proper places, suitably constructed bearing brackets, as 28,each bracket'carrying a pivot-pin 29, and connected with each pin 29 isa =link30. Each link is adapted to swing horizontally, and each linkalso has an enlarged portion, as 31, each enlarged portion being formedwith an elongated opening 32 in which the anti-friction rollers 27 ofthe-respective arms 26 are operatively arranged as clearly indicated inFigs. 1 and 3 of-the drawings As shown more particularly in said [Fig 3,the said elongated openings. 32 i are bounded by the arc-shaped portions33 and the straight portions 34, the arc-shaped portions 33being Epartsof circles having'theircenters in-the longitudinal central axes of therespective posts 1, so thatthe initial movements-of the arms 26 andtheir rollers :27 will not'affeet or produce any movement of the links30, until the said rollers 27 are brought into engagement with thestraight portions 34, as will be clearly evident, and the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter more fullystated. The :said enlarged portions31 of the said links 30 are .also provided with pairs of rearwardlyprojecting perforated lugs or ears '35, each pair; ofsaid lugs or earsbeing provided with a pin,-as

portions-of the-said connecting rods 37, by

means of pins 39, are suitable crank-arms '10, said crank-arms beingrigidly connected with a horizontally extending shaft or shafts, as 41,oscillatorily mounted in rearwardly extending bearing-brackets, as 42,which are suitably secured by means of bolts 43 to the said angle-barsor beams 8, as clearly shown in the several figures of the drawings.Also suitably secured to the said shaft or shafts 4'1, and preferablyadjust ably mounted thereon by the split portions 45 and-binding screws48 and nuts 17, are other crank-arms 0r levers 44. Pivotally connectedwith the steps, as at 48, are the lower end-portions of rearwardlyextending links 419,-said links having theirupper endportions pivotallyconnected, as at 50, with the respective crank-arms or levers 44. Aspringtil is attached at one end to the pivot 50 and at the other-end tothe platform 2, as at 52.

Thepurposes and operationsof the various devices and parts described inthe foregoing specification will be self-evident from an inspection ofthe several figures of the drawings, and, therefore, it is deemedunnecessaryto further describe the manipulation and operations of thesaid devices and parts, vexcept :to state that when the doorposts-orrods 1 are operated, in the usual manner, ,for closing thevestibuleedoors, the step-lowering and raising mechanism will not-beoperateduntil the anti-friction rollers .27 engage the straight portions34 "of the-Jinks 30, which will-properly swing-the lin ksaand therebyatthe proper time, that is when the doors are almost entirely closed, willoperate the said step-raising .mechanism, so that the steps areraised,with the help ofrthe distended spring 51,.onlyat the time .thatthedoorsihave been brought-into their almost completely closed relation,or, vice versa, that thestepsare completely lowered at the initialopening of the doors, and before the :doors have been finally swung intotheir fully opened positions. The purposeiof this is to guard againstaccidents topersons desiringto alight fromvor desiring to enter, thecar.

Ofcourse I am aware that some changes may gbewmade .in the generalarrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as wellas:,in the details of the constructionsof the saidparts, withoutdeparting from ,the scope of the present invention as set forth in theforegoing specification, and as defined-in the clauses of the claimswhich areappendedto the said specification. Hence, I doinot limit mypresent invention to the exact arrangements andvcombinations mediateclosing or opening of the door, con-,

sisting of a shaft from which said step-operating 'mechanism isoperated, an arm mounted upon said door-carrying rod or post, ahorizontally swinging link, said link being provided with an elongatedopening,

said opening being bounded with an areshaped portion forming part of acircle having its center in'the central longitudinal axis of saiddoor-carrying rod or post, and said opening being bounded also by astraight portion, a pin extending from said arm, a roller upon said pin,said roller extending into said elongated opening and being inengagement with said arc-shaped and said straight portions, and aconnecting rod between said link and the said shaft.

2-. In combination with the platform of a car, an oscillatorily mounteddoor-carrying rod or post mounted upon said platform, said rod or posthaving a portion extending beneath the said platform, and a door mountedupon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform,a shaft mounted in said brackets, a folding step connected with saidshaft, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, ashaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets, a crank-arm connectedwith said lastmentioned shaft, a link pivotally connected at one endwith said crank-arm and at its other end with said step, and meansintermediate of said last-mentioned shaft and beneath the said platform,and a door mount ed upon said rod or post, a set of brackets mountedbeneath said platform, a shaft oscillatorily i mounted in said brackets,a folding-step connected with said shaft, a second set of brackets alsomounted beneath said platform, va shaft mounted insaid last-mentionedbrackets,a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a linkpivotally connected at one end with said crank-arm and at its other endwith said step, and means intermediate of said last-mentioned shaft andsaid rod or post and actuated from said rod or post for actuating saidlast-mentioned shaft simultaneously with the immediate closing oropening of the door, consisting of an arm mounted upon saiddoor-carrying rod or post,'a horizontally swinging link, said link beingprovided with an elongated opening, said opening being bounded with anarcshaped portion forming part of a circle having its center in thecentral longitudinal axis of said door-carrying rod or post, and saidopening being bounded also by a straight portion, a pin extending fromsaid arm, a roller upon said pin, said rollerextending into saidelongated opening and being in engagement with said arc-shaped and saidstraight portions, and a connecting rod between said last-mentioned linkand the said lastunentioned shaft.

4. In combination with the platform of a car, an oscillatorilymounteddoor-carrying rod or post mounted upon said platform, said rod or posthaving a portion extending beneath the saidplatform, and a door mountedupon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath said platform,said brackets being provided with stop-providing offsets, a shaftmounted in said brackets, stepcarrying brackets mounted upon said shaft,stop-members connected with said stepcarrying brackets adapted to bebrought into arresting engagement with said offsets, a step mounted uponsaid step-carrying brackets, a second set of brackets also mountedbeneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets,a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a link 'pivotallyconnected at one end with said "rod or post having a portion extendingbeneath the said platform, and a door mounted upon said rod or post, aset of brackets mounted beneath said platform, said brackets beingprovided with stop-providing offsets, a shaft mounted in said brackets,step carrying brackets mounted upon said shaft, stop-members connectedwith said stepcarrying brackets adapted to be brought into arrestingengagement with said offsets, a step mounted upon said step-carryingbrackets, a second set of brackets also mounted beneath said platform, ashaft mounted in said last-mentioned brackets, a crank-arm connectedwith said last-mentioned shaft, a link pivotally connected at one endwith said crank arm and at its other end with said step, and meansintermediate of said last-mentioned shaft and said rod or post andactuated from said rod or post for actuating said last-mentioned shaftsimultaneously with the immediate closing or opening of the door,consisting of an arm mounted upon said doorcarrying rod or post, ahorizontally swinging link,

means connected with said arm and in en' gagement withsaid'lastunentioned link for intermittently swinging said llnk, and aconnecting rod between said link and said lastmentioned shaft.

6. In combination with the platform'of a car, an oscillatorily mounteddoor-carrying rod or post mounted upon said platform, said rod or posthaving a portion extending beneath the said platform, and a door mountedupon said rod or post, a set of brackets mounted beneath saidplatform,said brackets being provided with stop-providing offsets, ashaft mounted in said brackets, step-carrying brackets mounted upon saidshaft, stop-members connected with said step-carrying brackets adaptedto be brought into arresting engagement with said offsets, a stepmounted upon said stepcarrying brackets, a second set of brackets alsomounted beneath said platform, a shaft mounted in said last-mentionedbrackets, a crank-arm connected with said last-mentioned shaft, a linkpivotally connected at one end with said crank-arm and at its other endwith said step, and means intermediate of said last-mentioned shaft andsaid rod or post and actuated from said rod or post for actuating saidlast-mentioned shaft simultaneously with the immediate closing oropening of the door, consisting of an arm mounted upon saiddoor-carrying rod or post, a horizontally swinging link, said link beingprovided with an elongated opening, said opening being bounded with anarcshaped portion forming part of a circle having its center in thecentral longitudinal aXis of said door-carrying rod or post, and saidopening being bounded also by a straight-portion, a pin extending fromsaid arm, a roller upon said pin, said roller extending into saidelongated opening and being in engagement with said arc-shaped and saidstraight portions, and a connecting rod between said last-mentioned linkand the said last-mentioned shaft.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 16th day of September, 1915.

EDVARD M. MOLLER.

Witnesses FRnnK (J. FRAENTZEL, FREDK H. WV. F RAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, -Washington,-D. O.

